The definition of disability under
Social Security is different than other programs.
Social Security
pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial
disability or for short-term disability.
For additional assistance with disability eligibility consider
the following: RESOURCES
"Disability" under
Social Security is based on your inability to work. We consider you
disabled under Social Security rules if:
You cannot do work that you did before
We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s)
Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
This is a strict definition of
disability. Social Security program rules assume that working
families have access to other resources to provide support during
periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation,
insurance, savings and investments.
To decide whether you
are disabled, we use a step-by-step process involving five
questions. They are:
1.Are you working?
If you are working in 2008 and your
earnings average more than $940 a month, you generally cannot be
considered disabled.
If you are not
working, we go to Step 2.
2.Is your condition "severe"?
Your condition must interfere with
basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered. If it
does not, we will find that you are not disabled. If your condition
does interfere with basic work-related activities, we go to Step 3.
3.Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
For
each of the major body systems, we maintain a list of medical
conditions that are so severe they automatically mean that you are
disabled. If your condition is not on the list, we have to decide if
it is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list.
If it is, we will find that you are disabled. If it is not, we then
go to Step 4.
4.Can you do the work you did previously?
If your condition is severe but not
at the same or equal level of severity as a medical condition on the
list, then we must determine if it interferes with your ability to
do the work you did previously. If it does not, your claim will be
denied. If it does, we proceed to Step 5.
5.Can you do any other type of work?
If you cannot do the work you did in
the past, we see if you are able to adjust to other work. We
consider your medical conditions and your age, education, past work
experience and any transferable skills you may have. If you cannot
adjust to other work, your claim will be approved. If you can adjust
to other work, your claim will be denied.
Special Situations:
Most people who
receive disability benefits are workers who qualify on their own
records and meet the work and disability requirements we have just
described. However, we want to point out some situations you may not
know about:
Special Rules for People Who
Are Blind
There are special
rules for people who are blind or have low vision.
We consider you to be
legally blind under Social Security rules if your vision cannot be
corrected to better than 20/200 in your better eye, or if your
visual field is 20 degrees or less, even with a corrective lens.
Many people who meet the legal definition of blindness still have
some sight, and may be able to read large print and get around
without a cane or a guide dog.
If you do not meet the
legal definition of blindness, you may still qualify for disability
benefits if your vision problems alone or combined with other health
problems prevent you from working.
There are a number of
special rules for people who are blind that recognize the severe
impact of blindness on a person's ability to work. For example, the
monthly earnings limit for people who are blind is generally higher
than the limit that applies to non-blind disabled workers. This
amount changes each year. In 2007, it was $1,500. In 2008, that
amount increases to $1,570.
Benefits for Disabled Widows
or Widowers
If something happens to you, benefits may be payable to your widow or widower with a disability if the following conditions are met:
He or she is between ages 50 and 60
The widow or widower meets the definition of disability for adults
The disability started before your death or within seven years after
Note: If your widow or
widower caring for your children receives Social Security benefits,
he or she is eligible if disability starts before those payments end
or within seven years after they end.
Your widow or widower
cannot apply online for survivors benefits based on their disability
but he or she can get the process started by completing an Adult
Disability Report before they contact SSA
We use the same
definition of disability for widows and widowers as we do for
workers.
Benefits for Disabled
Children
A child under age 18
may be disabled, but we don't need to consider the child's
disability when deciding if he or she qualifies for benefits as your
dependent. The child's benefits normally stop at age 18 unless he or
she is a full-time student in an elementary or high school (benefits
can continue until age 19) or is disabled.
For a child with a
disability to receive benefits on your record after age 18, the
following rules apply:
The disabling impairment must have started before age 22, and;
He or she must meet the definition of disability for adults
Note: An adult may become
eligible for a disabled child's benefit from Social Security later
in life.
For example, a worker
starts collecting Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. He
has a 38-year old son who has had cerebral palsy since birth. The
son will start collecting a disabled "child's" benefit on his
father's Social Security record.
Disability Benefits for
Wounded Warriors
Military service
members can receive expedited processing of disability claims from
Social Security. Benefits available through Social Security are
different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs and
require a separate application.
The expedited process
is used for military service members who become disabled while on
active military service on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of
where the disability occurs.
Cited Source: The above statements, regulations, policies, procedures, forms, governance, or laws, are cited from The U.S. Social Security Administration; The Department of Social Security; and/or their agencies, departments, affiliates, and/or subsidiaries. Any inaccuracies or misstatements should be brought to our attention immediately via
the Contact Us link which can be found at the bottom of each page.
The definition of disability under
Social Security is different than other programs.